·         AAP is a fundamental part of achieving protection outcomes and protection mainstreaming

·         Having regular protection update will not automatically result in better protection outcomes from the groups work. The Protection Cluster Coordinator should work with the Inter-Cluster Coordinator to ensure that presentations are tailored to the audience of Cluster Coordinators and lead to something actionable by the group.

·         Differentiation between HCT protection priorities and HRP and/or cluster protection priorities.

·         Protection mainstreaming should be carried out jointly with the AORs

·         As far as possible, assessment, advocacy and capacity building should be integrated or at least harmonized

·         For meetings such as the ICC and HCT it may be best for the coordinators of the cluster and the sub-clusters to participate as a team.

·         Representation will likely need to be adapted according to context, objective, occasion and the level of confidence and knowledge in different technical areas required. The protection cluster coordinator or cluster lead agency is not able to bar sub-cluster coordinators from attending meetings or representing the cluster.

QUESTIONS ABOUT COORDIANTION:

-          How to coordinate with the Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus

-          Role of the GPC to support efficient coordination in country

2. Localization – strengthening local capacities must be part of the protection agenda. 

3. Protection mainstreaming is not changing what we do but how we do it. Mainstreaming is the responsibility of ALL HUMANITARIAN ACTORS – (Protection leans) 

4. According to IASC "The role of the protection cluster is to support the mainstreaming of protection and work closely with other clusters to address the most severe protection risks within their sector-specific response"

Maria Gabriela Villota

·         The centrality of protection is more than protection mainstreaming. This means that, as well as striving to do no harm as a result of their programming, humanitarian actors must work together to identify and reduce protection risks and violations faced by people affected by humanitarian crisis. 

·         Centrality of protection, including AAP, is a collective responsibility of all actors throughout the response, not just protection actors. 

·         Protection Cluster and AoRs must work together to ensure a strong country protection strategy is developed

·         NPC and AoRs should work in adherence to partnership principles of equality, transparency, responsibility and complementarity, as well as promote consensus decision-making and speak in unison or coordinated way 

·         All humanitarian actors must adhere to the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence.

Questions: 

·         How can we demand accountability from existing humanitarian structures, to uphold its own mandate and principles? (Upholding humanitarian principles, the centrality of protection, and accountability to affected populations) 

·         As cluster coordinators, how can we ensure response priorities are not dictated by the institutional and operational interests of key agencies and/or stakeholders? (UN, donors, regional platforms, etc.)

·         How can we help ensure meaningful engagement, participation and leadership for NGOs within a cluster system heavily influenced and dominated by UN structures ? 

Andrea Verdeja

2.       All humanitarian actors and sectors have a responsibility to mainstream protection in their programs and strategies 

3.       Safety, dignity, and meaningful access, accountability, participation, and empowerment need to be considered in all programs.

4.       “Humanitarian aid is about reaching out to save life, reduce suffering and support human dignity in time of crises”.

5.       The humanitarian principles guide our work. All humanitarian actors must know, understand, and implement them. 

6.       The AoR lead agencies have equivalent responsibilities to cluster lead agencies and should engage alongside the protection cluster in all inter-cluster processes. The IASC Handbook for RCs and HCs on Emergency Preparedness and Response (2010) highlights that the functions and responsibilities of AoR lead agencies are identical to those of Cluster Lead Agencies, including the responsibility of Provider of Last Resort. Each AoR lead agency is also responsible for mainstreaming issues pertaining to its AoR into the work of all clusters, as appropriate. 

1.       How can the humanitarian architecture or the coordination systems avoid or mitigate overlapping in programmes, no respect for the mandates and competition for funds?

2.       How can we prevent a conflict of interest between the interagency role and the leading agency interests when discussing the distribution of CERF/pooled funds? 

3.       “AoR lead agencies have equivalent responsibilities to cluster lead agencies and should engage alongside the protection cluster in all inter-cluster processes. Representation of the cluster should be agreed  between  the  protection  cluster coordinator  and  the  sub-cluster  coordinators  by  consensus.  The protection cluster coordinator or cluster  lead  agency  is  not  able  to  bar  sub-cluster  coordinators  from attending meetings or representing the cluster”. Is this really happening?

4.       Why the AoRs are not independent clusters? Can the PIN determine the need for separation and independence eventually? Why do the AoRs work under the umbrella of the Protection Cluster?

5.       How can the protection cluster and AoRs promote and make more visible the HNO and HRP results in order to ensure more funding for protection?